a book for every pocket

This course was originally published as the February project for 2021, so if you are already enrolled in that there's no need to dive in here...I'm simply offering it again as several people have asked about it.

We will be exploring folded book structures, and adding pages for drawing and writing as well as lovely leaf-printed pages just to uplift the soul; beginning with a simple four winds book, moving on to a double version (the Island Book) and then swinging into a seven-page version that becomes a never-ending story as you keep turning the pages. I'll also show you my River Book, a magical means of turning one big sheet of paper into a pocket-sized sketchbook (a structure that came to me during a residency on the banks of the River Tay in Scotland, hence the name) and a good excuse to purchase a luscious sheet of paper as a souvenir if you're travelling.

Then we will use the foundations we've laid to explore the making of an exquisite (and comfortingly tactile) textile book. This can be made either from your ecoprint samples (if you're tired of sewing quilts from them) or built from a collection of random undyed scraps, and then bundled for a glorious dye-up. It will be a treasure that you will want to keep close.

There's no special equipment required, just the usual needles and scissors and threads most folks (especially you lovelies who hang out with me here) already have at home. Don't worry about ordering expensive papers either, we'll start by working with brown paper shopping bags, old envelopes and printed books that have done their dash.

Will you join me for another armchair voyage around the village well?